No respect! - Mascherano sent off for dissent but Rafa blames referee

On a day when Manchester United took a huge step towards retaining their Barclays Premier League crown with a 3-0 win over Benitez's men and rivals Arsenal lost 2-1 at Chelsea, Mascherano took centre stage by becoming the latest star name to show a lack of respect towards a match official.

In a week dominated by the debate over players' attitudes towards officials in the wake of the Ashley Cole affair at Tottenham, Mascherano was dismissed for haranguing Bennett in the 44th minute, with his side 1-0 down and still in the game.

Remarkable scenes followed as the Argentina midfielder refused to leave the field and eventually had to be placated by Benitez and dragged down the touchline to the dressing room.

Benitez admitted that his player had made a 'mistake' — but insisted that Bennett had overreacted and helped condemn his side to defeat.

The Liverpool manager said: "I could see two games out there. There was one game before the sending-off and another one after it.

"The player told me and Ryan Babel also told me that Mascherano was only asking the referee what was happening. He knows he made a mistake but to send a player off for this in a game as important as this is just not right."

Mascherano was booked early in the match for a late tackle on Paul Scholes and subsequently appeared intent on walking a fine line as he questioned several decisions by Bennett.

And although TV replays suggested that he was merely saying 'what's happening?' in the pivotal incident, it is possible that Bennett showed him his second yellow card for persistent dissent.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "I don't know why he got involved. I think with the thing that had happened with Ashley Cole in midweek, there was going to be a focus on dissent. Mascherano had been booked and he kept badgering the referee. We have been talking about dissent — and that was definitely dissent."

Benitez, who has now failed to beat United in the Premier League in six attempts, refused to be drawn on whether he thought Bennett had been influenced by what happened with Cole during Chelsea's 4-4 draw at Tottenham last week.

But Bennett was the fourth official at White Hart Lane and was criticised by referees' head Keith Hackett in a Sunday newspaper for failing to intervene as Cole turned his back on match referee Mike Riley.

Benitez added: "I have my opinions on all these things but sometimes they are best kept to yourself. When you play a big game like this then you are surprised to see somebody sent off in this way.

"Before that we were losing 1-0 but we had some chances on the counter-attack and we had some corners but after the sending-off then you can just forget it.

"The game was over after that. All our people are really disappointed but we can't do anything now."

United's win — their fifth on the bounce in the League — came courtesy of a rare goal from defender Wes Brown and second-half efforts from Cristiano Ronaldo and substitute Nani.

With Arsenal losing in the day's other big game at Stamford Bridge, United's lead at the top is five points, with Chelsea now their closest challengers.

Ferguson was understandably delighted after seeing his team come through another big test. He said: "We should have been three or four up by half-time. I think we were the better team already but the sending-off made it very difficult for them.

"Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney could have had hat-tricks and it was a bit disappointing that we didn't finish them off earlier.

"But it was a performance of real maturity from us. This is a real high peak. It is also very good for our goal difference and it gives confidence and a real boost. I still think the race will go right to the end as Chelsea and Arsenal are both playing really well. It will be very close."

Liverpool remain in fourth place in the League and now have a huge game at Anfield with Everton this coming Sunday as the two Merseyside rivals battle it out for the final Champions League qualifying spot.

Benitez added: "That is what we have to focus on now. That is very important for us. We know that we have made some mistakes for their goals today but I think we will recover.'